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“The Line Becomes a River. Dispatches From the Border” by Francisco Cantu

Cantu grew up in the Southwest and felt a special interest in the borderlands, and border issues. So, despite being college educated, he joins the Border Patrol, and has many amazing experiences which he shares in this book. Tracking smugglers and illegal immigrants takes an enormous toll on Cantu, who very specifically fears losing his humanity in the process. He is articulate, balanced and insightful about the issues. The saddest section to read is about his friend, a Mexican who entered illegally, lived in the US for 30 + years, raising a family. Caught because he went back home to be with his dying mother, Jose will do anything, even facing imprisonment and death, to get back to his family. Hard to argue with that!